15 Accounting Courses for High School Students
If you are in high school and thinking about business, finance, entrepreneurship, or even economics, taking an accounting course can be a strong move.
What do accounting courses cover?
A good accounting course teaches you how to read income statements, track expenses, and understand where profit actually comes from. Accounting is one of the most useful business skills you can learn early, and it shows up in almost every career path that involves money, planning, or running an organization.
Why pursue accounting courses as a high schooler?
If you’re building something, like a small business, a nonprofit project, a finance club portfolio, or even just a serious college application, learning accounting basics helps you stand out. It also gives you a skill you can apply immediately, whether you are managing a club budget or trying to price something you want to sell. Colleges notice when you have taken time to learn practical skills outside your school syllabus.
If you’re looking for more options, you can consider online accounting courses. To sharpen your skills and test them against others, have a look at accounting competitions.
To help you get started, here are 15 accounting courses for high school students!
15 Accounting Courses for High School Students
1. Wharton Global Youth Program – Essentials of Finance
Cost: $8,299; need-based scholarships are available
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (on campus)
Program Dates: June 7–June 19; June 21–July 3; July 12–July 25; July 26–August 8
Application Deadline: Priority: January 28; Final: March 18
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11; prior exposure to economics or business is preferred but not required; international students are eligible
In this intensive two-week program, you build a working understanding of how accounting supports real financial decision-making. You analyze financial statements, study corporate accounting concepts, and apply tools like discounted cash flow and net present value to evaluate companies. Through case studies and interactive exercises, you learn how accounting data feeds into valuation, risk assessment, and investment decisions. You work in teams to assess a publicly traded company and present a market recommendation, strengthening both analytical and communication skills. You also gain exposure to cohort-based learning and Wharton-led instruction, culminating in a formal presentation experience.
2. Young Founders Lab
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a complex problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. Through this process, you will learn financial skills, accounting concepts, and how to handle the financial accounting of a business. The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. Temple University Fox School of Business – Accounting Institute
Cost: Paid program; scholarships are available
Location: Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Program Dates: Two-week summer program
Application Deadline: Not publicly listed. You can request more information here.
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors; students from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply, though all eligible students may apply
In this two-week accounting immersion, you explore what professional accounting work actually looks like through hands-on, project-based learning. You attend non-credit workshops led by Temple faculty and accounting professionals, where you examine topics like financial crime, business operations, and applied accounting frameworks. The program includes a case competition, giving you experience working with real-world scenarios and presenting structured solutions. You also receive exposure to accounting technology tools and participate in field trips to corporate offices, helping you connect classroom concepts to workplace environments.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from accounting, finance, and AI/ML to consulting, fintech, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. Through internships in accounting, finance, or economics, you will learn valuable accounting skills. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company.
5. New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants – Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP)
Cost: Free or sponsor-supported
Location: College campuses across New York State
Program Dates: Varies by host campus (annual programs held during the academic year and summer)
Application Deadline: Varies by program location
Eligibility: High school students interested in accounting or the CPA profession; specific grade requirements vary by host campus
Through COAP, you explore what accountants actually do across industries, moving well beyond textbook definitions of the field. You attend structured sessions hosted on college campuses where you learn about accounting career paths, the CPA credential, and how accounting connects to business leadership, finance, and forensic work. The program emphasizes professional skills such as analytical thinking, communication, and ethical decision-making; core competencies of the accounting profession. You interact with practicing CPAs and accounting professionals, giving you early exposure to real career trajectories and workplace expectations.
6. Harvard Summer School – Financial Accounting
Cost: Varies by format; need-based aid available. 7-week residential: $15,735 (8 credits). 7-week online/commuter: $4,180 (4) or $8,160 (8). 4-week residential: $9,100 (4).
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (on campus); limited online/commuting options may be available by term
Program Dates: 7-Week Program: June 20 – August 8; 4-Week Program: July 12 – August 7
Application Deadline: Early: January 7; Regular: February 11; Late: April 1 (rolling, if space remains)
Eligibility: High school students who will graduate in the next three years; at least 16 years old by June 20 and under 19 by July 31; application with transcripts and counselor report required
In this college-level financial accounting course, you learn how businesses record, summarize, and communicate financial information to stakeholders. You work through core accounting statements like income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, while understanding how transactions flow through an accounting system. Coursework emphasizes interpretation as much as mechanics, helping you connect accounting outputs to business decisions and performance analysis. You engage in problem sets and case-based discussions typical of an undergraduate accounting class, building precision, analytical reasoning, and financial literacy.
7. Columbia University Pre-College Programs – Statistics Applications in Finance
Cost: NYC Residential Summer (3 weeks): $12,837 (includes housing and meals); NYC Commuter option: $6,380
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY (in person)
Program Dates: Session A: June 29–July 17; Session B: July 21–August 7
Application Deadline: Early Registration: February 2; General Application: March 2
Eligibility: High school students; prior knowledge of basic statistics and probability is recommended
In this applied course, you work directly with real-world financial data to understand how quantitative methods inform financial decision-making. You apply statistical tools such as probability and regression to analyze market behavior, assess risk, and interpret trends that underlie financial statements and performance metrics. Through group projects, case studies, and stock market simulations, you practice translating numerical outputs into structured insights; skills that are essential for accounting-adjacent roles like financial analysis and reporting review. The curriculum connects data analysis to portfolio concepts and market dynamics, helping you see how accounting information is evaluated and stress-tested in practice. Daily sessions mirror an intensive college schedule, building discipline, precision, and collaborative problem-solving.
8. Columbia University Pre-College Programs – Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics
Cost: NYC Residential Summer (3 weeks): $12,837 (includes housing and meals). NYC Commuter: $6,380; Online Summer (2 weeks): $4,017, 1-week online: $2,867.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY (in person); Online option available
Program Dates: In-person: June 29 – July 17; July 21 – August 7; Online: July 06 to July 17; July 20 to July 31
Application Deadline: Early Registration: February 2; General Application: March 2
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in Columbia Pre-College Programs; no formal prerequisites, though comfort with basic math and economic concepts is helpful
In this foundational course, you examine how firms make financial and economic decisions in real markets. You explore how companies raise capital, evaluate investments, and interact with financial markets, using concepts drawn from economics, finance, and accounting. The curriculum introduces stocks, bonds, valuation models, and investment strategies, while also analyzing what accounting statements reveal and conceal about a firm’s performance and risk profile. Through case studies and independent work, you practice applying theoretical models to real business scenarios.
9. Introduction to Investments — UCLA Summer Sessions (Precollege Focus Series)
Cost: Online (Virtual): $2,330; Commuter (In-Person): $3,156
Location: University of California, Los Angeles — Los Angeles, CA (Commuter) or Online (Virtual)
Program Dates: July 13 – July 31
Application Deadline: June 12
Eligibility: Grades 9–12; minimum GPA 3.2; at least 15 years old by the first day of the program; unofficial transcript required; English-proficiency documentation for international students
In this three-week pre-college program, you build a strong financial literacy foundation while exploring how investment decisions are evaluated in real markets. You attend UCLA-led economics lectures and participate in smaller discussion sessions where you analyze case studies, valuation styles, and quantitative approaches used to assess assets and firms. As you work through topics like stock ownership, bonds, global markets, banking cycles, and risk, you learn how accounting information and financial statements inform pricing, valuation, and investor decisions.
10. ColumbiaX: Introduction to Corporate Finance (edX)
Cost: $225 for verified certificate; free audit option available
Location: Online
Program Dates: Self-paced (approximately 4 weeks; rolling enrollment)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to high school students; no prerequisites required
This online course from ColumbiaX introduces you to core corporate finance concepts that sit closely alongside accounting, especially in how financial statements are used to evaluate firms and investment decisions. You’ll learn how ideas like time value of money, cost of capital, and capital budgeting connect directly to the valuation of stocks, bonds, and companies. The course emphasizes practical application, including using Excel to calculate NPV, IRR, and firm value; skills that build naturally on accounting fundamentals. Because the content mirrors what first-year MBA students learn, it offers strong academic rigor without assuming prior finance experience.
11. Financial Management Specialization — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Cost: Paid (Coursera subscription or per-course payment); financial aid is available
Location: Online
Program Dates: Self-paced (approximately 3 months at ~10 hours/week)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open enrollment; best suited if you already have some exposure to business, accounting, or finance concepts
This online specialization from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a deep, accounting-adjacent pathway into financial management and corporate decision-making. You work through six structured courses that begin with financial accounting foundations and progress into investments, portfolio evaluation, and corporate finance, helping you understand how accounting data drives valuation and strategy. Throughout the program, you evaluate financial statements, analyze risk, and apply accrual accounting concepts to real business scenarios. The coursework focuses on applied learning through quizzes and peer-reviewed assignments that mirror how firms assess investments and financing decisions.
12. Accounting for High School Students — William Rainey Harper College
Cost: Varies by high school district and enrollment option
Location: William Rainey Harper College, Palatine, IL (with instruction at participating high schools)
Program Dates: Varies by school year and summer term
Application Deadline: Varies by district and enrollment pathway
Eligibility: High school students in participating districts (notably Districts 214 and 220); eligibility depends on school partnership and instructor approval
This accounting pathway from William Rainey Harper College gives you early, college-level exposure to financial accounting while you are still in high school. You follow the same curriculum and textbook used in Harper’s ACC 101 Financial Accounting, allowing you to build a real foundation in debits and credits, financial statements, and core accounting logic before entering college. Through the Credit by Examination option, you can sit for the ACC 101 proficiency exam on Harper’s campus and earn both high school and college credit if you pass. If you prefer ongoing coursework, Concurrent Enrollment lets you enroll directly in Harper classes during the school year or summer for college credit.
13. Summer Accounting Academy — Morgan State University
Cost: Free
Location: Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
Program Dates: 5-day commuter program in July
Application Deadline: Typically June
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; community college students may also apply. Preference given to applicants with strong academic records (GPA ~3.0+ preferred)
This short-format accounting academy gives you an early, structured introduction to accounting as a college major and career pathway. You explore core college-level concepts such as financial statement analysis, ratio analysis, and the role of Excel in accounting, while working through hands-on activities and a group case study presentation. The program emphasizes real-world exposure through industry panels featuring professionals from corporate, public, and government accounting, and typically includes a field visit to a Big Four firm or similar business institution. You also receive practical guidance on college applications and financial aid, helping you connect accounting coursework to longer-term academic planning.
14. Discover Yourself in Accounting Majors and Careers (DYNAMC) — McCombs School of Business, UT Austin
Cost: Free (tuition, meals, and on-campus housing covered)
Location: McCombs School of Business, Austin, TX
Program Dates: June 21–26
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors
This immersive, weeklong academy introduces you to accounting majors and career pathways through hands-on learning and exposure to real-world business problems. You participate in workshops led by McCombs faculty, work through case competitions that test analytical and decision-making skills, and receive mentorship from current UT student leaders. The program emphasizes career awareness with networking sessions and industry interaction, and is supported by partners such as Ernst & Young, giving you a window into professional accounting environments. You also experience on-campus living, collaborative projects, and leadership development activities that mirror college life.
15. Business Foundations – Dartmouth Precollege Summer Scholars
Cost: $4,999–$9,299 (varies by session and format)
Location: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Program Dates: June 28 – July 10
Application Deadline: Priority: December 16; Regular: January 27; Extended: March 24; Rolling: After May 1 (space permitting)
Eligibility: High school students (specific grade requirements not publicly specified)
This two-week Business Foundations course introduces you to core concepts across accounting, finance, economics, and strategy through a structured public company valuation project. You work with spreadsheet modeling, accounting fundamentals, and financial analysis to understand how firms generate revenue, finance growth, and evaluate new investments. The program emphasizes how compounding, leverage, and risk affect expected returns, while linking accounting data to real business decisions. You collaborate in teams to analyze a company’s operations, competitive position, and financial performance, culminating in a formal presentation of your findings.
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